California Education Code

§ 44993

EDC § 44993 Effective Jan 1, 2019Div. 3 · Title 2 · Part 25 · Ch. 4 · Art. 3.3

Statute text

(a)(1) A support person selected by the minor witness shall be appointed for the minor witness at the onset of the hearing, unless that person does not have the education, experience, and familiarity with the minor witness to protect the minor’s mental health, welfare, and well-being. A parent or guardian of the minor witness shall be presumed to be qualified to serve as the support person for the minor.

(2)If the minor witness does not make a selection, or does not select a person who is able, because of education, experience, or familiarity with the minor, to ensure that the minor’s mental health, welfare, and well-being are protected, or the judge determines that the minor’s parent or guardian is not qualified to serve as the support person for the minor witness, the judge shall select and appoint a support person for the minor. The support person shall be present during all stages of the hearing to provide support to the minor.

(b)If the respondent wants to contact the minor witness, the respondent shall contact the support person to coordinate any legal contact, including, but not necessarily limited to, an interview, deposition, or other hearing preparation task.

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Legislative history

Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 996, Sec. 1. (AB 2234) Effective January 1, 2019.